MUHC Foundation president named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women

MUHC Foundation president Julie Quenneville can add another award to her already impressive resume. She was recently named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by The Women’s Executive Network.

She joined Global’s Laura Casella on Global News Morning Tuesday to discuss just how much the honour means to her.

Related

Indigenous business conference inspires female entrepreneurs

Shattering Glass: Young female business owners’ biggest obstacle? They aren’t taken seriously

Balancing business and motherhood: how female entrepreneurs are making it work

“I find it very empowering,” she said. “As women we often feel very vulnerable and incredibly guilty. To be reminded that we can be powerful also makes me feel a great sense of responsibility to other women.”

As a successful female in a leadership role, Quenneville acts as a mentor to many young women.

READ MORE:
Shattering Glass: Ignore the glass ceiling and you may just crack it

She knows the importance of having a mentor because she said she wouldn’t have the career she has today, without the help of her own mentors.

“But I haven’t had any female mentors and I think that there’s a difference in the approach to leadership,” Quenneville said.

The approach to the bounds of life between women and men is different, she said. Now in her role, she says she feels as if she has a responsibility “towards helping young women be able to reach that.”

As a single mom of two, she balances home life and her demanding job.

“We feel guilty the house isn’t clean enough, we could be at home more with our spouses, we could be taking care of our kids much more, so it’s a balancing act that’s harder and more emotional for women,” she said.

Quenneville is participating in a panel called “In Her Shoes” hosted by The Women’s Executive Network.

“We’re hoping to empower young women to know that they have a place in leadership roles,” she said.

The event on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Intercontinental Hotel hopes to mentor the young attendees, support them and provide them with useful advice to “make it” in leadership roles, said Quenneville.

For tickets and information about the event, visit muhcfoundation.com.

“The more women are in leadership roles, the more we will pull up,” she said. “We have a responsibility to pull them up into those roles with us.”